1
'It was crap' - nothing will make up for England's 2015 World Cup failure says Joe Marler
Joe Marler insists that even a successful World Cup in Japan would fail to make up for the “crap” experience of 2015.
ADVERTISEMENT
England’s dismal group-stage exit four years ago was their worst performance in tournament history, resulting in the dismissal of Stuart Lancaster and appointment of Eddie Jones.
It would have been Marler’s last World Cup experience had he not reversed his decision to retire from international rugby in June, enabling him to secure a place in Jones’ squad.
“This isn’t unfinished business. If I’d not come back 2015 would still be the same,” the Harlequins prop said.
Continue reading below
“I’d still feel the same about 2015 irrelevant of what happens at this World Cup. It’s completely different. 2015 was an experience – it was crap.
“That’s the mildest I think I’ve ever put it, but it happened. I’ll always have that.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B19z7fhgCZL/
“If we win this World Cup it won’t then be like I can forget about 2015 because that will still have happened. So it’s not for me to go ‘I need to right some wrongs’.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Those memories help in terms of experience talking to the other boys, but it’s also a hard one to relate to Japan.
“A home World Cup is just completely unique and I don’t think it will be anything like going away to Japan.”
Marler’s captain during that ill-fated campaign, Chris Robshaw, has tipped England to fare much better this time around telling The Guardian it is a two-horse race.
“I think it will be between England and South Africa,” he told The Guardian.
Having last played for England last June, Robshaw didn’t make Eddie Jones’ 31-man squad for this year’s tournament in Japan.
ADVERTISEMENT
The 33-year-old loose forward predicts that England and South Africa have enough quality throughout their squads to land the Webb Ellis Cup in November.
“Of course I hope England win it. It would be brilliant for the guys and amazing for the country.
“Seeing the buzz about the football, in both the men’s and women’s World Cup, and now the Ashes, you realise how sport galvanises the country like nothing else. This England side has the potential to do that.”
Rugby World Cup city guide – Fukuoka nightlife:
Comments on RugbyPass
This game was always going to be close, Canada have such a dominant pack and the Black Ferns have come unstuck in that area against teams like France and England in the past.
2 Go to commentsA distinct discomfort with the officiating they were probably selected from the local IRA narcos branch along with the commentators bloody fly tippers.
1 Go to commentsWow, never thought I would read that
2 Go to commentsExcellent match. Great to see Keenan and Ryan back for Leinster. Super result for Ulster. Season is turning around.
1 Go to comments“We need eight or nine new players, who are hard-wearing and durable and experienced Premiership performers”. So why are they scouting a retired fullback who himself admits that his “body is broken”?
1 Go to commentsBrumbies hand, knocked a Crusaders hand. Therefore, knock on in goal. Crusaders, goal line drop out should’ve been awarded. most likely after that 24 each at full time, so extra time would’ve been the right an entertaining outcome. Act Jim
1 Go to commentsSpeell cehck
1 Go to commentsColeman is gaawwwwnnn.
1 Go to commentsnext SA head coach?
3 Go to commentsGreat try by van Poortvliet.
1 Go to commentsThey have been cruelled by injuries but almost nobody (Sevu Reece and Fletcher Newell big exceptions) has played above himself which regularly happened before. Surely Scott Robertson had maintained the recruitment programme and it looks like a reasonable squad. Last in this competition will stall a lot of careers. Penny seems likeable. But it’s not enough even though this was better. We haven’t been good enough and it’s not helped by the “it’s been 15 years since… “etc “after nearly every match. Seems somehow a soft gifting of something once valuable. Kieran Read giving comments last week almost choked describing the easy surrender of possession by the forwards. I’d love to think that the senior players some of whom are back can show enough pride in the jersey to test the Blues next week.
3 Go to commentsWho will Joe select for the back three with so many in form candidates? Just hope he doesn’t get shafted like Dave Rennie and to a lesser extent Deans.
8 Go to commentsAlways reluctant to blame a coach when losses rack up, but Penney must go. The backline is dysfunctional and the coach must carry the can. No cohesion, no idea and in many cases, minimal skill. The trains out of Roma St depart faster than the ball from Crusaders’ set pieces. Wouldn’t be surprised if the forwards went on strike.
3 Go to commentsAdding to earlier comment. Cullen Grace has been playing great at no6. Lio-Willie , who was on fire a few weeks ago, had a bad game. I think Cullen should have been moved to 8 earlier, Dominic Gardiner on earlier. Feel for Quinten Strange , put in a big shift .
8 Go to commentsWe dominated the scrums Ben Curry was all over pitch again .Surely James Harper got to be one of best English tightheads
1 Go to commentsRoos is a better option at 6 than 8 for the boks. Needs to work on his windgat though.
1 Go to commentsThe Sharks’ 2nd team maybe?
1 Go to comments‘radical’
1 Go to commentsCome back to Christchurch Robbie, please!
1 Go to commentsI think there is zero chance Sam Cane will be selected for another Test. There is simply no point except sentimentality. Razor is not sentimental- ask Wyatt Crocket. Razor is a ruthless selector
5 Go to comments